April begins with the silly practical jokes of April Fools' Day and there's no reason we can't continue that light-hearted attitude throughout the month. To help keep a spring in your step, check out this issue's cool-as-a-spring-breeze Pinterest pins plus websites featuring Earth Day, egg recipes, outdoor entertaining, and the Hope diamond. You'll also enjoy two amazing videos about a lucky tornado survivor and brave tower climbers.

Of course, it can't be all fun and games. We also include a heads-up about emails claiming to be from lenders or landlords with malicious attachments, educate you about new domain names, and teach you how to turn on private browsing on your browser.

The goal of each of our eNewsletters is to keep our subscribers informed regarding their Internet connection and to improve their Internet experience. We think you'll find this information interesting.

To see what's inside this issue, simply scroll down the eNewsletter or click on the links within the index to the left. Thanks for reading!

On April 8, 2014, support and updates for the Windows XP Operating System will no longer be available. Don't let your PC go unprotected.

Microsoft has provided support for Windows XP for the past 12 years. But now the time has come for us, along with our hardware and software partners, to invest our resources toward supporting more recent technologies so that we can continue to deliver great new experiences.

As a result, after April 8, 2014, technical assistance for Windows XP will no longer be available, including automatic updates that help protect your PC.

If you continue to use Windows XP after support ends, your computer will still work but it might become more vulnerable to security risks and viruses. Also, as more software and hardware manufacturers continue to optimize for more recent versions of Windows, you can expect to encounter greater numbers of apps and devices that do not work with Windows XP.

For more information on what you can do To stay protected after support ends, visit Microsoft.com.

Spring Into Action With The Spring 2014 Website Compass Issue The Smart Revolution is here — from smart baby onesies to smart contact lenses to smart watches. Watch for the Spring 2014 issue of Website Compass magazine in your mailbox and check out the feature on smart technology. Website Compass is a value-added bonus for choosing us as your Internet Service Provider. Here's what you'll find inside:

Feature Article: The Smart Revolution

Internet Connections: Do You Have the Need for More Speed?

Social Media Basics: Facebook Loses Steam With Teens

Back to Basics: How to Avoid Digital Eye Strain

Beyond the Basics: Customized Comics With Bitstrips

Dr. Webbie Answers Frequently Asked Internet Questions

A to Z Internet Glossary

Tutorials on Getting Started With Bitstrips and Removing Bitstrips From Your Facebook News Feed.

Question: For years, most website addresses ended in .com, .net, and .org. Lately, however, I've been seeing more variety in domain names. Why is that?

Answer: What you're describing is the expansion in the number of generic top-level domains, known as gTLDs. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) decided in 2012 that the 22 existing gTLDs — including .com, .net, and .org — weren't enough. So, ICANN decided to allow up to 1,400 new gTLDs. ICANN claimed, "These additional gTLDs will enhance competition, innovation and choice in the Domain Name space, providing a wider variety of organizations, communities and brand new ways to communicate with their audiences."

As you've seen, new gTLDs such as .app, .sports, .club, and .healthcare have already started to launch. Many more of these domains are in the process of being brought to market; it's a long and complicated procedure that's designed to include protections for trademark holders and give average users a fair shake at getting the names they want.

Unearth Earth Day Ideasepa.gov – Each year, Earth Day — April 22 — marks the anniversary of what many consider the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. If you'd like to join the celebration, take a look at this site. You'll find ideas on how you can take "greener" actions at home, work, school, and stores as well as when you're on the road.

Get Cracking With Egg Recipescookinglight.com – Eggs take center stage during the Easter season so don't scramble to come up with new recipes at the last minute. Instead, check out these top-rated egg dishes from Cooking Light. They include Mediterranean-Style Poached Eggs, Mini Frittatas with Ham and Cheese, and Double Vanilla Meringues.

Go Outside and Playbackyardsimple.com – Are you experiencing spring fever? The best treatment may be to throw an outdoor party for family and friends. This site is brimming with fresh ideas for backyard entertaining including easy Mason jar lights, grilling tips, serving sizes for a crowd, budget-friendly food, lawn games, and more.

Mystery of the Hope Diamondsmithsonianchannel.com – April's birthstone is the diamond and there's no more famous one than the huge, blue-gray Hope diamond. Take a sneak peak here at the Smithsonian Channel's documentary about the world's most celebrated jewel and learn about the legendary curse that's plagued its owners.

Happy Post-Tornado SurpriseThis older woman in Oklahoma is being interviewed after a tornado destroyed her home in 2013, and she thinks her dog is gone. To her surprise and delight, the dog emerges from the rubble during the interview.

A 1,768-Foot Vertical CommuteFair warning: If you're afraid of heights, don't watch this video! The rest of you will be fascinated by the footage of workers climbing a tower, step by step, in the open air to begin their workday on one of the world's tallest towers.

Private, or incognito, browsing is designed to keep your browsing history away from the eyes of casual snoopers. In other words, someone who jumps on your computer won't see where you've been online. Every major Web browser – Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Opera – has private browsing. When you turn this feature on, your browser won't record your browsing history and will ignore ad-tracking cookies.

For instructions on how to turn on private browsing, click on the icon below for your browser.

We hope you found this newsletter to be informative. It's our way of keeping you posted on the happenings here. If, however, you'd prefer not to receive these bulletins, please see the links at the bottom of this email to manage your preferences.